For the Rally spectators Saturday, the 18th May, will be especially busy — the sports cars will gather by the Talsi Culture Centre already at 13.00. The Rally Opening Ceremony will start at 13.45, during which four participants of the Rally of Champions from Lithuanina, Estonia, Russia and Slovakia will express their forecasts as regards the expected fight in the stages. In the Rally Talsi Opening Ceremony it will be possible to see also the special guests — the fastest driver of the Baltic States Ott Tänak from Estonia and the fastest Latvian formula driver Haralds Šlēgelmilhs, who for the first time will participate in a race with a rally car. Six present drivers will continue the tradition and as a memento to the Talsi City will leave their hand prints. The present rally fans will be addressed also by the Chairwoman of the Talsi County Council Daiga Feldmane and Cūkmens representing the Latvia’s State Forests Cūkmens will remind how simple it is not to litter neighborhood in order to avoid organization of the Big Cleanup Day each weekend.

The fight for victory in the Rally Talsi will begin on Saturday at 15.30, and at this time also unforgettable marathon sprint of six stages will commence, during which following the zipper principle within the planned schedule the spectators will be able to see all stages of the day. The sportive part of the first day will conclude with the long expected special City Stage, which to spectator’s pleasure will be covered twice.

At the end of the first day all rally fans are welcome to attend the Saturday Evening Concert provided by a new, however artistically very experienced musical project „Normunds Jakušonoks & Tipa Orchestra” that will offer to the Talsi inhabitants and guests their newest concert programme “Notikums” (Event). The Evening Concert will start approximately 30 minutes after the last stage of the day and will be held in the very heart of the city — in the Talsi City Square by the Talsi Culture Centre.

The Rally will continue on Sunday starting from 10.00, when the sportsmen will have to cover the remaining distance of 82.62 km divided in 6 stages. During the day the spectators will be able to see at east three of them, including the grand crest and the concluding stage of 27.22 km that pretty often is the decisive stage in the fight for victory. The Rally Awarding Ceremony is envisaged at 17.30 by the Talsi Folk House.

We would like to remind that the Rally Talsi entrance cards are already available in Rīga and Talsi. The price of the entrance card for both days is approximately EUR 11.50, and it allows the holder to see all Rally stages as well as to attend the Saturday Evening Concert.

In order to please all Talsi City inhabitants and guests, the Rally Talsi sponsor Neste Oil has envisaged also a special offer and during the Rally — on 17th, 18th and 19th May — in the fuel filling station in the Dundagas St 1 fuel will be offered for special price.

Saturday, 18th May

- 13:00 Talsi dances! — the Temporary Dance Studio “Elfa” and the Talsi Fitness Centre 1
- 14:00 Rally Opening Ceremony by the Talsi Culture Centre
- 14:30 Start of the first rally car
- 15:30 SS1 La Kalme
- 15:45 SS2 Ramirent - let's solve it
- 17:35 SS3 Nissan Norde
- 17:58 SS4 Mogo.lv – You have a car, you have money
- 19:35 SS5 Talsi City Special 1 – City Stage
- 19:50 SS6 Talsi City Special 2 – City Stage
- 22:30 Concert by the Musical Project „Normunds Jakušonoks & Tipa Orchestra”

Sunday, 19th May

- 10:00 SS7 Canon IB Serviss
- 11:00 SS8 Autoplius
- 11:30 SS9 Sigulda Mineral Water
- 13:35 SS10 Neste Oil
- 14:05 SS11 Torley
- 15:50 SS12 Delfi
- 17:30 Awarding ceremony of the Rally participants by the Talsi Folk House

Jānis Unbedahts, Press Secretary RA Motosport. Foto: Aigars Tīdmanis, go4speed.lv